Ethiopia Drowns in Up to Nine Million Tonnes of Waste a Year

Mintesinot Nigussie

The Ethiopian Environment Protection Authority says Ethiopia generates between eight million and nine million tonnes of solid waste annually, as rapid urbanisation and rising consumption continue to strain urban waste management systems. Officials said nearly half of the country’s waste is not properly collected or disposed of, with significant volumes ending up in open fields and riverbanks.

The authority’s urban waste management monitoring desk head, Wasihun Alemu, said weak disposal practices remain a key driver of pollution in urban centres. He said the challenge is being intensified by structural changes in consumption patterns, particularly a sharp rise in plastic use over the past two decades.

According to the authority, per capita plastic consumption increased by more than 400 percent between 2007 and 2022. The authority linked the growing waste burden to rapid city expansion and the inability of existing collection and recycling systems to keep pace with rising demand.

To address the challenge, Ethiopia has implemented Solid Waste Management Proclamation No. 1383/2025, which introduces an extended producer responsibility framework requiring manufacturers to share responsibility for the collection, recycling and disposal of their products at end of life.

Officials said the policy aims to strengthen waste management systems, expand recycling practices and reduce the environmental footprint of plastics and other non-biodegradable materials. The move comes as urban centres continue to face mounting waste pressures.

Businesses in manufacturing, packaging and retail sectors are expected to be directly affected by the new extended producer responsibility rules, which will require greater investment in collection and recycling infrastructure.

The growing waste volumes highlight the urgent need for stronger enforcement and more coordinated waste infrastructure development across Ethiopia’s rapidly expanding urban areas.

Overall, Ethiopia’s annual generation of up to nine million tonnes of solid waste underscores the scale of the environmental challenge and the importance of the new proclamation in addressing plastic pollution and improving waste management systems.